07_work_0122_anselm

The book explores the question of why God became man. Anselm and Bozo engage in dialogue to find an answer. Bozo cross-examines Anselm but is impressed by his wise answers. Anselm argues that honoring or dishonoring God has infinite value. In Book 2, Anselm states that only God can make the necessary satisfaction for sin, but it must be done by a man. This leads to the discovery that God and man must collaborate to fulfill the salvation work. The very idea of Sama is Latin for Why the God-Man. In the book, a dialogue partner is named Bozo, and Bozo asks him several questions and cross-examines Anselm many times, so they're trying to arrive at the answer for why God became him. Bozo is an interesting character, and he's always in amiable dialogue with Anselm, even if he's cross-examining him. Most of the time when Anselm gives an answer, Bozo just can't believe how wise of an answer it is. It's very fun to read from that vantage point. When I'll read these quotes, Anselm will just be in my normal voice, but Bozo will be in a voice that I can see whenever I think of Bozo. In Book 1, Chapter 21, he asks a really interesting hypothetical question. Find yourself in the sight of God. When said to you, look over here. But God, on the other hand, should say, it's not my will that you see there. Then ask your heart what there is in all existing things which would make it right for you to give that look contrary to the will of God. I must confess that I ought not oppose the will of God, even to preserve the whole creation. What if there were more worlds as full of beings as this one? Were they increased to an infinite extent and held before me in like manner? My reply would be the same. Okay, so he's trying to make the point that honoring God has infinite value and that dishonoring God has infinite value. He makes a lot more arguments along these lines, but let's skip to Book 2, Chapter 6, okay? Anselm is just describing how God will complete the good work of salvation which he has begun, and then he goes on and he says, This cannot be effected in the completion of this good work, except the price paid to God for the sin of man be something greater than all the universe besides God. Oh, it appears. Moreover, it is necessary that he who can give God anything of his own which is more valuable than all things in the possession of God must be greater than all else but God himself. Oh, I cannot deny it. Therefore, none but God can make this satisfaction. Oh, it appears. But none but a man ought to do this, otherwise man does not make the satisfaction. Nothing seems more just. If it be necessary, therefore, as it appears, that the heaven and the kingdom be made up of men, and this cannot be effected unless the aforesaid satisfaction be made which none but God can make and none but man ought to make, it is necessary for God and man to make it. Oh, blessed be God, we have made a great discovery with regard to our question. Go on, therefore, as you have begun, for I hope that God will assist you.